Austria's Parliament Faces Marathon Week: Budget, E-Cigarettes, and New School Subjects on Agenda

Austria's National Council is set for an unusually busy week, with parliamentary sessions scheduled for all five weekdays, a frequency not observed since December 1993. This packed schedule is largely due to the traditional parliamentary "clean-up" before the summer recess coinciding with the crucial budget debate. Lawmakers cannot begin their holidays until the double budget is approved on Friday.

The parliamentary week is divided into two main parts. Monday and Tuesday will focus on a diverse range of legislative matters. From Wednesday through Friday, the primary focus will shift to the budget and accompanying legislation. Before diving into budget discussions, several other topics will be addressed. These include extending the inspection intervals for vehicle "Pickerl" (roadworthiness stickers), with the first check after initial registration now due after four years instead of three, and subsequent intervals also being extended. Regulations previously favoring Ukrainian refugees in the transport sector will also be rescinded.

A potentially contentious debate is expected regarding education, with the introduction of two new subjects: "Media and Democracy" and "Informatics and Artificial Intelligence." The curriculum changes involve reducing hours for second foreign languages or Latin in upper secondary schools (AHS-Oberstufe), which has already sparked protests. Additionally, the National Council will tackle the issue of doctors facing lengthy waits for the initial phase of specialist training, shortening this foundational training from nine to six months starting August 1.

Single-use e-cigarettes will be banned by the end of the year, and significant penalties will be imposed for discarding cigarette butts on children's playgrounds. Consumer protection measures will also see improvements, with manufacturers of certain products like smartphones and washing machines obligated to offer free repairs or provide them at a reasonable price. For distance contracts, such as those made online or by phone, a function for online withdrawal declarations must be made available. The practice of intentionally designing products with a limited lifespan will be explicitly prohibited. Further decisions include simplifying the extension of living wills and explicitly naming Austria's six autochthonous ethnic groups in the Ethnic Groups Act.